Just when I thought there wasn’t much more to be learned about Vandercook history, I saw this circa 1943, full-page display ad in a trade journal on ebay for a ink manufacturer touting their two-color Vandercook. The running footer on the back of this page reads “Packaging Catalog” (WorldCat). The carriage looks similar to the […]
MoreCategory: *Model
rollers + inconsistent inking
Hi Paul, Thank you so much for your help earlier this year with replacing our Vandercook [SP20] trip switch [springs]. I have run into another issue that is raising some questions now and I thought you may be a good person to ask. Our ink rollers work great some of the time and there are […]
MoreNo. 4 carriage latch spring in pieces :'( … looking for replacement
Hello! One of our No. 4s has a shattered X-10161 spring causing the carriage to not catch on its return to the feed board. The spring holds up the carriage latch (?) that the carriage needs to catch. I attached photos of the broken spring, an identical intact one on our other No.4, and the […]
MoreRiders Not Riding!
The rider rollers on my newly acquired Model 4 aren’t making even contact with the forms. On the front roller I can pass a piece of 12 pt card stock between halfway across the roller’s length. The back one is better but still light on the same (operators) side. The forms are accurately adjusted to […]
MoreVandercook SP20 locking up in both directions
.mov video
MoreVandercooking in Brazil
Dear friends of Vandercookpress.info. I’d like to share a bit about the history of this press and my hypotheses about its journey to Brazil. Perhaps you can help me clarify some questions. I purchased this Vandercook No. 3 (serial 8122) in the second half of 2022, in São Paulo, from a mechanic who had acquired […]
MoreVandercook UNI III Power slowdown
I have noticed a problem with my UNI III Power slowing down and not running to the end of the bed after 40 or so impressions. I thought it might be an electrical problem, but went through all the electrical troubleshooting I could, and no joy. So I took a look at the clutch. It […]
MoreDrum Springs for my SP20
Quick question about replacement springs on my SP20. The press is currently on long-term loan to a friend, and since their adopting it, we have now broken 3 drum springs in less than 3 years. I know at least one of them was an hardware-store spring which happened to work, but one, maybe two, were […]
MoreNew Sheet Delivery Tray for the Uni I
I just made a new sheet delivery tray for the Uni I. It travels with the carriage and provides a place to put just-printed sheets. It is a huge timesaver since it’s right there. The design is simplified from the original but it works just as well. The pins at the end are threaded and […]
MoreSP15 roller height changes erratically
I’ve been experiencing an issue with the roller height on an SP15. I calibrate the rollers, and after pulling a few proofs, I can tell something isn’t right. I check the rollers again, and find they’ve shifted, drastically — sometimes after just two or three impressions. It isn’t happening all the time. On Saturday I […]
MoreLarge Showcard Available in Chicago
Spudnik Press in Chicago is selling letterpress items from a late artist’s studio at the printmaking collective, including a Showcard with a 25½” × 34″ bed. $3,000 with the items shown in the photos. Catalog of materials for sale (Google doc) Contact ccreasman@saic.edu
MoreVandercook No.4 motor jolts and more: easy to fix?
Hi! I’m in the UK and looking at buying a Vandercook 4C, serial no. 6018, made by Miller. We visited it this weekend, but there are 3 things I’m worried about. I’d really appreciate some advice. Points 2 and 3 are the biggies for me. I’m maxxed out on budget to buy and move the […]
More